GE14 | Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman said he will not be contesting in the coming 14th general election (GE14).

“I would humbly like to announce that I will not be contesting in GE14.

“I have already conveyed my wish not to contest to the prime minister almost two years ago,” Zainal said in a statement today.

He thanked Umno president Najib Abdul Razak for agreeing with his suggestion for a “fresh face” to replace him to contest in the Nibong Tebal parliamentary seat.

Zainal had previously contested the seat in 2013 but lost to PKR’s Mansor Othman by 8,598 votes.

“I have introduced him (the new candidate). He has served the community and has received positive reactions from the local community,” Zainal said.

He said he would continue to focus on leading the Penang Umno election machinery to retain its three parliamentary seats in the state, as well as 10 state seats.

Zainal would also work to regain the two parliamentary seats and five state seats that the Penang Umno had previously won.

The Penang Umno election machinery would also focus on helping BN candidates in the other seats in the state, he said.

Zainal also said that the list of BN candidates for Penang has been finalised and would soon be announced by Najib.

Umno candidates in the Penang BN will contest in five parliamentary seats and 15 state seats, while the other eight parliamentary seats and 25 state seats in the state will be contested by candidates from fellow component parties Gerakan, MCA and MIC, he added.